Fan Distance

What's important is the fan in relationship to the fan shroud, not how close the fan is to the radiator.

Look at something like a 70s Monte Carlo. The fan was over a foot away from the radiator but just inside the shroud.

A shroud is an important part of the cooling system, far to often people think it's optional.

Think about it..... How well would the blower on your home furnace work if you didn't have any ducting? The shroud on the radiator is that ducting.